Aretxabaleta

Aretxabaleta stands on the banks of the river Deba and close to the border between Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa provinces. While most of its inhabitants live in the main built-up area, it has nine rural neighbourhoods attached to it.

Surrounded by green countryside, to the north it borders on Arrasate/Mondragón and to the south with Eskoriatza. Aretxabaleta is a prosperous industrial town bounded by the beginning of cooperativism, which has so much marked the development of this valley.

However, it preserves interesting monuments such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and its crypt the building was built over the former church of San Miguel de Bedarreta-, Otalora Palace and Arrabate Tower-house, headquarters of the Town Council.

Beautiful mountainous landscape

Placed in a mountainous landscape, the town offers visitors the opportunity to get to know gorgeous spots, such as Urkulu Reservoir, which is now a leisure area for the neighbours and the visitors, and Mount Kurtzebarri (1,146 m) that is very frequented by mountaineers. In mid-August, Aretxabaleta celebrates its patron saint festival honouring Andra Mari.

However, visitors can also have a great time during the rest of the year, since other festivals and fairs are held in Aretxabaleta, such as Txino Dantza (a dance performed on Carnival Sunday. Besides, San Miguel festival takes place at the end of September.